Tuesday, October 17, 2006 20,000 illegal structures, billboards found: Agency
A TOTAL of 20,340 illegal structures and billboards in Region 11 were found to have violated the law prohibiting structures within the national road right of way.
The figure is based on the inventory made by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in all provinces within the region.
DPWH 11 Director Dimas Soguilon said of the total number, 1,226 are billboards while 19,114 are illegal structures like shanties, vulcanizing shops, sari-sari stores and the like.
So far, 3,021 illegal structures were already demolished while the rest are still being looked into.
In Davao del Norte, there are 217 billboards within the road-right-of-way, while 396 other illegal structures like shanties and stores.
In Compostela Valley, the DPWH team found 303 billboards and 3,743 other illegal structures.
In Davao Oriental, the team recorded 176 billboards and 3,416 other illegal structures.
In Davao del Sur, 319 billboards were found standing within the road-right-of-way and 8,444 other illegal structures.
Here in Davao City, the 1st and 2nd congressional districts have a total of 92 billboards constructed within the road-right-of-way and 81 billboards outside the road-right-of- way. Illegal structures totaled 1,273 for the two districts.
In the city's 3rd district, 63 billboards were within the road right of way and 1,689 other illegal structures. Only two of the 63 billboards have been demolished so far.
Soguilon met with district engineers and advertising companies Monday and appealed to all sectors affected by the campaign against illegal billboards to cooperate with so they could find a win-win solution to the problem.
He instructed all the district engineers to conduct a dialogue with all concerned and create an inspection team to see what needs to be done in accordance with Administrative Order 160 issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Soguilon assured advertising companies that they will not immediately demolish billboards that can be remedied.
"We can reinforce the weak ones. While those within the road right of way can be moved out of the way. There will be no demolitions if an agreement can't be reached. Let's work together to smooth things out," Soguilon told the advertising companies.
Alex Montañez, an advertising agency owner, welcomed Soguilon's statement and assured the government in return that they would also cooperate with them. (BOT)
